Start Today

Biology

What Is Biology?

LMU's Biology major helps students gain a strong background in the discipline's core areas. Students develop skills in critical and logical thought, acquire knowledge of the fundamental areas of biology, gain experience in the laboratory and field, and develop ethical decision-making ability.

The Biology program encourages students to take on coursework, laboratory work, and fieldwork in a wide array of topics – including molecular biology, genetics, ecology, marine biology, microbiology, biochemistry, field biology, botany, physiology, and development. Students have access to eight well-equipped LMU teaching laboratories and six research labs. The Keck Molecular Biology Laboratory, for example, houses a Licor DNA Sequencer.

What Do Biology Majors Do?

Biology majors master the essential concepts and skills of biology, solve scientific problems, learn to articulate ideas and present information in a clear and organized fashion, and directly participate in the scientific discovery process through interdisciplinary collaborations and during intensive laboratory and field experiences with faculty and other students.

Biology majors take advantage of the department's large specimen collection, wide variety of field equipment, and marine field station on the Sea of Cortez in Baja California, Mexico. LMU's Los Angeles location allows for field studies in a diverse range of ecological habitats – including deserts, mountains, offshore islands, chaparral, rocky coasts, beaches, and salt marshes.

Is This Major Right for You?

You might be a Biology major if you:

Are interested in plant life

Are interested in marine life

Are interested in animal life

Are interested in human genetics

Enjoy research and fieldwork

About Our Faculty

Our faculty members are experts in fields such as genome annotation, carnivore feeding, spatio-temporal variability, chemical ecology, exotic and invasive biology, sexual dimorphisms, and the development of bioinformatics software.

Faculty members are also experts in plant stress biology, coral reef ecology, conservation biology, population genetics, ecology of marine gastropods, soil bacteria diversity, genetic research using Drosophila melanogaster, the evolutionary biology of spiders, and the ecology of Yuccas and yucca moths.

Our faculty members are active researchers and writers who have published papers in leading journals such as Science, and been awarded grants from prestigious organizations such as the National Science Foundation.

About Our Students and Graduates

Our students earn internships at world-class research, industrial, and medical facilities in the Los Angeles area. Students gain research experience by participating in faculty projects during summer programs and through other research institutions. Students study African wildlife biology during a study abroad program.

LMU students majoring or minoring in Biology prepare for graduate studies and careers in such diverse fields as environmental and marine biology, veterinary medicine, biotechnology, public health, business, law, journalism, and art. Our graduates also go on to careers in medicine, dentistry, optometry, and pharmacy, and as science researchers, teachers, and professors.